London Busmen Warned : Strike Action Means Dismissal
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URNING question of the hour at LP the time of going to press with this issue was whether London's busmen would heed the warning of Lord Latham that " anyone who fails to carry out the terms and conditions of his employment with the Executive would by this action terminate his employment."
The warning, signed by the chairman of the London Transport Executive, was posted in London Transport garages and depots at midnight on Monday. After emphasizing that the previous Saturday's stoppage was a flagrant and deliberate breach of agreement, the notice repeated the Executive's readiness to refer the dispute to arbitration.
Whatever the consequences, wrote Lord Latham, there could not be any departure by the Executive from its decision. The matter had become one of whether good faith and honourable observance of agreements should he maintained.
The dispute was discussed at the Ministry of Labour on Tuesday by officials of the Ministry and representatives of the Transport and General Workers' Union. This meeting was called by the Minister, Mr. George Isaacs, who invited the Union to supply him with full information regarding the position so far as the Union was concerned. The Union has officially opposed the strike from the start.
The claim for overtime payment at time-and-a-half rates on Saturday afternoons has also been made by employees of municipal and privately owned passenger-transport undertakings. The claim by the employees of independent operators was considered on Tuesday. The decision will be made known later.
Municipal workers were informed a month ago that their claim had been rejected. An official of the Municipal Passenger Transport Association told The Commercial Motor" that, so far as was known, there was no threat of strike action being taken in that section of the industry.